Treatment of pelvic floor disorders with an adipose-derived cell composition

Abstract

A method for treating a pelvic floor disease comprises removing adipose tissue from a patient, processing a first portion of the adipose tissue to obtain a heterogeneous mixture of cells that includes adipose-derived stem cells, combining the heterogeneous mixture of cells with a second, unprocessed portion of the adipose tissue in a ratio of from approximately 1:1 to 1:4 to produce a cell composition, wherein the second portion of the adipose tissue is structured to provide a natural scaffold, and administering the cell composition to the patient to treat a pelvic floor disease.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates generally to cells derived from adipose tissue. More particularly, the invention relates to preparing and using adipose-derived cells compositions to treat pelvic floor disease.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The concept of utilizing stem cells for regenerative medicine purposes has advanced considerably in recent years. The advancements have resulted at least in part by the discovery and identification of stem cells in various tissues. Although regenerative therapy has not yet reached a point where it is conventionally applied to numerous patients suffering from organ or tissue dysfunction, there is an increasing demand for therapies using stem cells as a form of regenerative medicine.[0003]Mesenchymal cells, such as adipocytes, bone cells, ligament cells, cardiac muscle cells, and the like, have an important function of forming the shape or skeleton of the body. Therefore, there is an increasing expectation for the application of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for obtaining a heterogeneous mixture of adipose-derived stem cells and other types of precursor and mesenchymal cells from adipose tissue. This mixture can be used to generate differentiated tissues and structures for therapeutic purposes. The method involves processing the adipose tissue to remove mature adipocytes and connective tissue, resulting in a concentration of stem cells. The stem cells can be combined with other cells, tissue, or additives to enhance their growth and differentiation. The invention also provides a composition containing a concentrated, heterogeneous cell population derived from adipose tissue and another portion of adipose tissue, resulting in a higher concentration of cells than either portion alone.

Problems solved by technology

As a result, it is difficult to isolate mesenchymal stem cells.

Furthermore, harvesting such cells from bone marrow is generally associated with a lot of pain to the donor.

However, minimal focus has been placed on harvesting stem cells from fat tissue for use in pelvic disorders such as, for example, urinary incontinence, prolapse, fecal incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and interstitial cystitis.

Detrusor overactivity may result from interference with normal neurological function or from defects in detrusor muscle cells that result in hypersensitivity to excitatory stimuli.

Functional incontinence results when a person has difficulty moving from one place to another.

Re-absorption by the body can limit long term effectiveness of this approach, especially for cross-linked collagen.

Treatments involving injection of chondrocytes and autologous smooth muscle cell treatments are also believed to be short lived in effectiveness.

Prolapse involving the small bowel or uterus may lead to prolapse of the vagina, even to the point of eversion from the body.

Prolapse may lead to varying degrees of discomfort in patients, to incontinence of varying severity and to other effects including painful intercourse.

This damage may come from repeated exertion of muscles over time, such as during pregnancy, from repeated heavy lifting or even from chronic coughing.

Damage to connective tissue may also come from less frequent, but more traumatic events, such as birth by vaginal delivery or hysterectomy.

It is recognized, however, that surgical procedures to correct prolapse involving one set of organs, may lead to prolapse involving other organs.

On the other hand, constipation can also lead to fecal incontinence when watery stool leaks around impacted stool and past anal sphincters stretched by the stool.

Nerve damage affecting sensory or motor control in the anal sphincter muscles may also lead to fecal incontinence.

Such damage may arise during surgery or from traumatic injury.

Damage to the anal sphincter muscles themselves can lead to loss of control over the contraction of the sphincters, leading to incontinence.

One of the major causes of damage to anal sphincter muscle results from vaginal delivery of children.

Protocols for injection of bulking agents into the anal sphincter or the regions surrounding the anal sphincter are receiving increased attention; however the use of these agents is still limited.

Age brings on a lack of arterial elasticity in vessels supplying blood to erectile tissues.

Damage to nerves necessary for initiating and sustaining erections brought on by chronic conditions (such as diabetes) or by injury can lead to dysfunction.

A significant cause of nerve damage comes from injury that occurs during prostate surgeries, especially radical prostatectomies.

Although new surgical procedures have been introduced that conserve the nerves in this region, a majority of men who undergo prostate surgery can still expect some degree of post operative erectile dysfunction.

However, they each require that the medication be taken in advance of initiation of sexual activity and their effects may be delayed if ingested with food.

These approaches allow for less advance preparation, but are not highly effective across patient populations, especially radical prostatectomy patients.

However, implants may fail over time and replacement or total removal may be required potentially leaving the patient with no relief at all.

Interventional treatments, such as sacral neuromodulation have been tried, but these are costly in the long term and invasive.